Vol. 7, Issue 2 (2018)

Author(s):
Ashok Kumar Yadav and Dinesh Chandra Rai

Abstract:
In the present study, the most effective solvent (among ethanol, water, methanol and acetone) for extracting the major antioxidant compounds especially polyphenolics from Ashwagandha root using various in vitro tests including 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) free radical scavenging, metal ion chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, and ferric thiocyanate reducing ability were identified. Ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera had significant (p<0.01) (DPPH) free radical scavenging (82%), metal ion chelating (78.88%), hydrogen peroxide scavenging (91.36%), superoxide anion radical scavenging (67.66%) and significant (p<0.05) ferric thiocyanate reducing activities. Therefore ethanol extract of Ashwagandha root have been found to have maximum functional components e.g. polyphenols and antioxidants.